Catamenial device



Sept. 15, 1953 w. v. LAY

CATAMENIAL DEVICE Filed Sept. 8. 1952 (Ittorneg Patented Sept. 15, 1953CATAMENIAL DEVICE Willard V. Lay, Denver, 0010., assignor to Earle C.Haas, Denver, 0010.

Application September 8, 1952, Serial No. 308,355

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a catamenial device and has for its principalobject the provision of an economical and highly efficient catamenialdevice of the insertion type which will eliminate the usual stitchingemployed in such devices and which when moistened will expand in atransverse eccentric manner in order to completely fill the irregularvoids and contours of a body cavity.

The usual catamenial device of the insertion type, when subjected tomoisture, expands both concentrically about its axis and longitudinallyof its axis. The result is that the increase in length of the pad oftenacts to partially force the pad from the body cavity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a catamenial device ofthe insertion type which will coil when subjected to moisture in a bodycavity so as to prevent longitudinal elongation which would tend toforce it from the cavity.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is hadto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved catamenial device in place in aninsertion member ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof partially extruded from the insertionmember;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the device, taken on the line 3-3,Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a magnified view of a portion of the cross section of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 illustrates a typical position assumed by the device whenunconfined and subjected to moisture; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a preliminary step in the production of the improvedcatamenial device.

The improved catamenial device comprises a preferably cylindricalcompressed core ID formed from highly compressed cotton or otherabsorbent fibrous or cellulose material provided with a withdrawing cordH. The core I!) is designed to be inserted in the vaginal cavity in anydesired manner. One means for inserting the core employs an outer tubel2 into one extremity of which the core I0 is slidably fitted. An innertube I3 is telescopically fitted into the outer tube 12 to act as aplunger for forcing the core from the outer tube. An enlarged head It onthe core limits its insertion into the outer tube 42. The inner tube I3is provided with an end slot l5 into which the withdrawing cord ll maybe drawn and gripped, as shown in Fig. 1, to retain the core ID in placein the outer tube and to retain the inner tube in the outer tube.

The core 10 is formed from an elongated cotton bat, as shown at H5 inFig. 6, cut from a layer of cotton or similar cellulose material so thatthe fiber structure extends lengthwise of the hat. The cord H is knottedabout one extremity of the bat, as shown at IT, preferably with a drawtype of knot which will increase its gripping action when the tension onthe cord II is increased. The bat with the cord is then placed in acompressing die and is highly compressed to form the cylindrical coreH).

For the purposes of this invention, the core 10 is provided with alongitudinally extending, indented groove l8 extending its entirelength. The groove [8 may be indented into the core at the time ofcompressing and forming the latter or it may be indented or cut into thecore after the latter is formed. The groove I8 is designed to receive anelongated layer of suitable waterproof adhesive I9 of any suitablevariety such as air-cured plastic or liquid latex. The adhesive forms anelongated tie strip in the groove l8 which is permanently attached tothe adjacent fibers of the pad at both sides of the groove andthroughout the length of the core. The result is to permanently tie thecore together along one side of its exterior surface through the entirelength of the core.

The fibers of a conventional, insertion-type catamenial device are tiedtogether along its aXis and before compression by a stitched seam. Theresult is that the core is free to elongate uniformly throughout itsentire length and width when subjected to moisture absorption. Thislongitudinal elongation is exceedingly objectionable since it acts toforce the extremity of th device from the body cavity.

In this improved device, the fibers of the core are attached only alongone side of the latter and this attachment is not made until the fibersare in the compressed condition. The result is that when subjected tomoisture the entire core expands in every direction except along thetied side. This causes the expanded core to curl substantially into acircle when unconfined, as shown in Fig. 5, and into a tight compactspiral when confined by the walls of a body cavity. There is little orno elongation of the tied side of the core, and the result is to causethe maximum expansion of the core to occur in a lateral direction in thecavity and the minimum expansion to occur in a longitudinal direction.This provides a tight seal in the body cavity and prevents protrusion ofany part of the expanded core.

The principal feature of the invention is the securing of the convolutedfibers, after compression, along one longitudinal external side of thecompressed core. The method of attaining the securement described hereinappears to be a very efficient one, since the groove assists in theapplication of the adhesive and serves also to prevent projection of theadhesive. However, similar results could be attained by placing theadhesive longitudinally of the external surface and eliminating thegroove, if preferred, or other means for tying the compressed,convoluted fibers at one side of the core could be employed.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied,within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent is:

1. A catamenial device comprising: a highly compressed, cylindrical coreof cellulose material and tying means extending longitudinally of theexterior surface of said cylindrical core and attached to the fibers ofone side of said compressed core throughout the length; of the latter toresist expansion of that side of the core.

2. A catamenial device as described in claim 1 having a flexibleWithdrawing member secured to the material of said core and extendingtherefrom.

3. A catamenial device as described in claim 2 in which the tying meansis imbedded in a longitudinally extending groove in the said exteriorsurface.

4. A catamenial device as described in claim 3 in which the tying meanscomprise a solidified strip of normally fluid adhesive material.

5. A catamenial device as described in claim 4, in which said strip isimbedded in a longitudinally extending groove in said core.

6. A method of forming a catamenial core of the insertion-typecomprising: forming an elongated bat of fibrous absorbent material;compressing said bat into a substantially cylindrical core and applyinga strip of adhesive material longitudinally of one side of said core toresist longitudinal expansion of the latter side.

'7. A method of forming a catamenial core of the insertion-type asdescribed in claim 6 in which a groove is formed longitudinally of saidone side of the compressed core into which said adhesive material isplaced.

8. A method of forming a catamenial core of the insertion-type asdescribed in claim 7 in which a withdrawing cord is positioned aroundand tied about one extremity of said bat before the latter iscompressed.

WILLARD V. LAY.

No references cited.

